HistoricSiteMarkers
Early Republic

Colonel Joseph Worthington Elliott Wallace

Columbus, Colorado County, Texas

Marker Inscription

United States Consul to the colonies in Texas, 1829-1832. A native of Philadelphia, PA. He later joined Austin's Colony, serving in campaigns leading to Texas War for Independence. In 1837, with W. B. DeWees, he platted the town of Columbus. In 1840 he was in Battle of Plum Creek, repulsing Comanche Indians; in 1842, served under Gen. Edward Burleson in defense against Mexico's invasions.

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

A Philadelphia native, Wallace served as United States Consul to the Texas colonies from 1829 to 1832 before joining Austin's Colony and the campaigns for Texas independence. In 1837 he helped plat the town of Columbus with W. B. DeWees, and he later fought at the 1840 Battle of Plum Creek against the Comanche and under General Edward Burleson in the 1842 defense against Mexican invasion.

Why it matters

Wallace's career runs through nearly every chapter of Texas's founding era—diplomacy, colonization, revolution, and frontier defense—embodying the Anglo-American push into the Southwest.

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Related people

  • · Joseph Worthington Elliott Wallace
  • · W. B. DeWees
  • · Edward Burleson

Themes & tags

Westward ExpansionMilitary & WartimeFrontier HistoryMemorial

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